Sutton's predictions: Plymouth v Liverpoolpublished at 11:05 9 February
11:05 9 February
Plymouth got their first league win since the start of November when they beat West Brom on Saturday, and they have brought a couple of players in under their new manager, Miron Muslic.
Even so, you cannot see past Liverpool's quality getting them a win here.
Arne Slot's side are going strong in Europe as well as the Premier League and I suppose the question is whether the number of games they play takes its toll eventually.
So far, though, Slot has managed their schedule so well, and their squad is very strong. For example, Trent Alexander-Arnold is out at the moment, but Conor Bradley can come in at right-back - problem solved.
I am speaking before they play Tottenham in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, but even defeat there would not derail their season. They have dropped points here and there, but unlike every other team at the top of the Premier League, they have not had a dodgy period.
Whatever team that Slot puts out here, my feeling is that Liverpool are pretty unstoppable. They have this relentless nature, and they will find a way of beating Plymouth.
New signings 'raise the bar' at Argyle - Muslicpublished at 13:15 7 February
13:15 7 February
Image source, Getty Images
Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic says new defensive signings Maksym Talovierov and Nikola Katic have driven "a big improvement" behind the scenes at Home Park.
Ukraine international Talovierov joined the Pilgrims for a club-record fee last month, while Bosnia's Katic has arrived on loan until the end of the season from Swiss side FC Zurich.
The pair both impressed on their debuts against West Bromwich Albion last weekend as the Pilgrims came from a goal down to win 2-1, ending a club-record 15-game winless run.
"They're top professionals, top, top guys," Muslic told BBC Radio Devon.
"A big improvement already in the locker room because those guys are arriving first at 08:30, so it forced the other guys to come a little bit early.
"Those guys are the first in the gym, are the last to leave the gym after training, so they're raising the bar on the pitch and they're raising the bar off the pitch, so I'm very, very happy with both signings.
"Being capable to have this kind of performance against West Brom, which after travelling for two-and-a-half days and having only one matchday minus one session with us and still able to perform like this, it's very promising for us and we will need them both."
Plymouth Argyle v Liverpool: Did you know?published at 17:01 6 February
17:01 6 February
Home Park is set for a memorable afternoon on Sunday as Premier League leaders Liverpool visit Plymouth in the FA Cup fourth round (15:00 GMT).
The eight-time winners edged-out Argyle in a replay on their only previous encounter in the competition, but this time around the Greens have won only five Championship games this season to sit bottom of the table, 43 places below the Reds in the ladder.
Plymouth Argyle's only previous FA Cup tie with Liverpool in the 2017 third round saw them draw 0-0 at Anfield as a fourth tier side, before losing 1-0 in a replay at Home Park.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their past eight games against Plymouth in all competitions (W5 D3) since suffering a 4-0 away defeat in February 1956 under manager Don Welsh.
Plymouth Argyle are looking to reach the FA Cup fifth round for just the fifth time, last doing so in 2006-07. The Pilgrims have gone out in the fourth round on four occasions since then, including last season against Leeds United.
The team starting the day top of the Premier League has only been eliminated from the FA Cup on three occasions previously by a side from outside the top-flight – Leeds against Cardiff in 2001-02, Chelsea against Bradford in 2014-15 and Man City against Wigan in 2017-18.
Liverpool's Diogo Jota has been involved in 10 goals in his 12 FA Cup appearances (6 goals, 4 assists) and has scored (2 goals) or assisted (1 goal) in all three of his away games in the competition.
'I think the window was honestly a solid 8 out of 10'published at 15:03 4 February
15:03 4 February
Image source, Getty Images
We asked you for your views on Plymouth Argyle's winter transfer window dealings.
Generally, the theme was positive, especially the additions of Maksym Talovierov, Tymoteusz Puchacz and Nikola Katic in defence, as the club twice broke its record for a fee paid and also received a club record £5m plus add-ons for Morgan Whittaker.
Will it be enough for Miron Muslic's side to beat the drop?
Here is a selection of what Pilgrims fans had to say...
Terry: It is lovely to see that Argyle have purchased players with some credible skills. The loan market has been good to us, but I felt the last group didn't have the heart nor courage to truly excel in the Championship. With players being brought in, they all have so much to prove, and with their respective personal statuses, they should be cementing their places in the team and showing other clubs what they are capable of.
Moose: Good signings! We trust the management and these players to do their very best to keep us up or, if not, to return us to the Championship at the first time of asking.
Chezzbo: Complete and utter disgrace. Waiting in anticipation just for the window to open, never mind to keep up with our business during it. We needed essentially a new team of players. Sold our best defender and attacker and didn't put that money back into the team like we needed. An extreme gamble from the higher-ups, and if we do end up going down, we know whose fault it is.
Matthew: I think the window was honestly a solid 8 out of 10. Players in and some senior players out. Whittaker and Gibson were big losses, but the money should help plug the leaky defence.
Keith: First impressions of Talovierov, Katic and Puchacz are excellent, and maybe bringing in Boateng will allow Randell to support the attack more.
Image source, Rex Features
Ricardo: A big change of style and a bit early to tell, but Miron seems to have a positive but realistic approach, and the signings look good. I'm still optimistic about staying up but could accept the alternative as long as we go down fighting.
Chris: Honestly, think we have done well on the defensive side, so hopefully we can stop leaking goals, which will make us harder to beat, but my concern is not getting another attacker, as you can defend well, but you still need to score goals.
Steve: Good business, and great to see the new manager shoring up our weak defence. If this works, we have a chance of staying up!
Roger: There are signs the Muslic strategy is having an effect. There is still time to gather enough points to beat the drop, but a lot of catching up to do. The key will be beating the clubs we face in the bottom half, but the last two performances will have given the players a huge lift.
David: Time will tell, but I think we have done well. We have certainly strengthened the defence. A striker would have been nice; hopefully we have enough goals in the team to keep us up.
Pad: You've got to roll the dice. Hopefully they will have the desired effect. The Great Escape is on....
What did you make of Argyle's transfer window?published at 12:56 4 February
12:56 4 February
Image source, Rex Features
It was all go off the field as Plymouth Argyle broke record for players coming to, and going from, Home Park.
Lewis Gibson left for more than £1m to Preston North End early in the window before the Pilgrims received a club-record £5m plus add-ons from Middlesbrough for influential forward Morgan Whittaker.
In terms of incomings, Argyle twice broke their record for a fee paid - first when Michael Baidoo joined from Elfsborg early in the month and then again last week when Ukraine centre-back Maksym Talovierov agreed a three-and-a-half-year deal.
And don't forget the loan signings of Poland wing-back Tymoteusz Puchacz and centre-back Nikola Katic, as well as the deadline day purchase of Hearts midfielder Malachi Boateng.
Has the club done enough to turn a corner and get out of the relegation places? Or is this just an expensive blow-out before the inevitable drop?
Tell us what you think about Argyle' transfer dealings below...
Muslic praises Argyle defence after beating Baggiespublished at 19:38 1 February
19:38 1 February
Image source, Rex Features
Plymouth Argyle boss Miron Muslic says his side's 'defensive structure' was the key to their 2-1 home win over promotion-chasing West Bromwich Albion.
Argyle had some luck with both substitute Ryan Hardie's two late strikes - the first of them an extremely controversial penalty - but Argyle also did well to limit an Albion side who had scored five goals the week before to such few chances.
Argyle's total of 63 Championship goals conceded in 30 games this season is still comfortably the worst in the EFL - but they are much improved from the side who suffered five separate league defeats by four goals or more under previous boss Wayne Rooney prior to Christmas.
"I spoke about having to change the mentality in the locker room," Muslic told BBC Radio Devon. "You can't change 15 players. It's about signing the right players.
"I was very pleased with our defensive structure. We need to stabilise the team and I think we did that.
"I am very proud and very happy for the lads. Not being able to win a game in three months does something to your mind, to your heart, to your legs. Everything becomes heavy. More difficult.
"I said last week against Sunderland was proof of life and this was another step forward. We didn't deserve to lose this game. We kept pushing and we got our rewards. It takes a lot of guts to come back from 1-0 down when you are in our position, but we did it.
"I was very pleased with Ryan Hardie. He scored two good goals. He wasn't pleased before the game because he wanted to play, and that's good. But he showed bravery to take the penalty and then he got the winner."
Mowbray upset by match-turning Plymouth penaltypublished at 18:46 1 February
18:46 1 February
Image source, Rex Features
Image caption,
Tony Mowbray's Albion have lost both their away games since he took charge - and in between won 5-1 at home - their best win in six years
West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray was dumbfounded by a sense of deja vu after seeing his side beaten 2-1 at Home Park by two late match-turning Ryan Hardie goals for Plymouth Argyle.
After taking the lead on 71 minutes, Albion were stunned three minutes later by a disputed penalty for handball - then Hardie added a second two minutes from the end with another goal that must have been very close to being chalked off too - this time for offside.
"We lost 2-1 here when I was with Sunderland - and it turned out to be one of those days again," said Mowbray.
"It was a really, really controversial decision. It was never a penalty kick, from someone who played the game for 20 years and has managed for 20 years.
"The referee's decision to give a pen I cannot understand. Even if it does hit his hand, he couldn't do anything about it. The boy is two yards away and smashes it straight at him. Is there a rule that says you have to put your hand behind your back now? But you have to take these types of decisions in your stride.
"Refs don't have to come out and talk to people after games. No doubt he would defend the decision and say it was right but I would find it difficult to understand how he would condone it.
"We found a way to lose a game we should never have lost. It is quite remarkable really. It's amazing we lost that game. We had such control. They didn't threaten that much and I couldn't see how they were going to score.
"I'm not sure how we lost that to be honest. Probably not enough shots? They played five across the back and they played a lot deeper than they normally do. We found it difficult to break them down. We have to put the ball in the back of the net when we're on top."
